‘Rust’ Assistant Director Dave Halls Has A History Of Safety Protocol Complaints

Crew members who have worked with assistant director Dave Halls have come forward to expose his past of violating safety protocols following the fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust.”

Last week, Halls handed actor Alec Baldwin a prop gun, which he fired and fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza.

Maggie Goll, an IATSE Local 44 prop maker, worked with Halls in February and May of 2019 on the Hulu anthology series “Into the Dark.”

On Sunday, she he told CNN that Halls would often fail to alert crew members when a firearm was on set and wouldn’t hold proper safety meetings.

“The only reason the crew was made aware of a weapon’s presence was because the assistant prop master demanded Dave acknowledge and announce the situation each day,” Goll stated.

She revealed the experts on set tried to enforce safety protocol. Goll claimed the prop master would “announce each day when a gun would be required on camera, the disposition of that weapon -- whether it was a rubber/plastic replica, a non-firing option, or a 'cold' functional, but unloaded option, allowing anyone to inspect said weapon prior to bringing it to set and presenting it to the talent."

Goll added that "the Prop Master frequently admonished Dave for dismissing the talent without returning props, weapon included, or failing to make safety announcements."

Another crew member who also worked with Halls corroborated Goll’s comments and revealed Halls complained about an expert properly inspecting a gun for a scene in which the actress had to shoot herself.

Goll went on to claim Halls failed to create a safe working environment. She claimed he failed to establish fire lanes, blocked exits, and accused him of sexual misconduct in the workplace.

Goll reported Halls’ behavior to the Directors Guild of America and complained to Blumhouse Productions executive producers. She does not believe Halls was ever reprimanded.